Cola
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[[Image:CocaColaBottle.jpg|right|thumb|The Indonesian version of the characteristically-shaped [[Coca-Cola]] bottle]]
[[Image:Pepsinewcan.jpg|right|thumb|A can of [[Pepsi]] cola]]
'''Cola''' is a sweet, [[Carbonation|carbonated]] drink usually with [[caramel coloring]] and containing [[caffeine]].<ref name="flavoring">{{citeweb|url=http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-cola-flavored-with.htm|title=What is Cola Flavored with?|accessdate=2007-06-19}}</ref>
Originally invented by the druggist [[John Pemberton]], it has become popular worldwide. Today, [[Coca-Cola]], [[Pepsi]], and [[RC Cola]] have become the major international brands, leading to the drink often being seen as a symbol of the [[United States]].
During the [[Cold War]], it was perceived in many countries as a symbol of the American power and culture. As a result, communist and anti-American countries created their own national versions of the cola drinks, such as the Czech and Slovak [[Kofola]] or Polish [[Polo-Cockta]]. These days [[Mecca-Cola]] is marketed as an alternative to U.S. brands such as [[Coca-Cola]] and [[Pepsi-Cola]].
Cola is sometimes used as an ingredient in [[cocktail]]s such as the [[Cuba Libre]].
==Flavoring==
Despite the name, the primary flavoring ingredients in a cola drink are [[sugar]], [[citrus]] oils (orange, lime, or lemon fruit peel), [[cinnamon]], [[vanilla]], and an acidic flavorant<ref>http://sparror.cubecinema.com/cube/cola/chemistry/cola2.htm</ref>. Although different manufacturers of cola drinks add other trace ingredients to the drink in addition to these flavorings in order to create distinctively different tastes for each brand. Trace flavorings may include [[nutmeg]], [[lavender]], and a wide variety of ingredients, but the base flavorings that most people identify with a cola taste remain vanilla and cinnamon. [[Kola nut]]s, which have a bitter taste, contribute little or no flavor to most cola recipes. Acidity is often provided by [[phosphoric acid]], sometimes accompanied by citric or other isolated acids.
Inexpensive colas may contain only vanilla and cinnamon as flavorings, which provide a simple cola taste {{Fact|date=May 2008}}. Many cola drink recipes are closely-guarded secrets of their manufacturers, with the recipe used by [[Coca-Cola formula|Coca-Cola]] being perhaps the most famous in this respect.
In addition to sweeteners such as [[high fructose corn syrup]], many other sweeteners may be used as the sweetening ingredient in cola, including [[sugar]], [[stevia]], or an [[artificial sweetener]] depending on product and market. "Sugar-free" or "diet" colas contain artificial sweeteners only.
==Brands==
The most successful brands of cola are [[Coca-Cola]], [[Pepsi]], and [[RC Cola]]. There are too many local brands to list, made by small regional producers but certain countries and continents have variants produced on a mass scale for large populations. Many generic manufacturers of cola around the world now exist. [[Dr Pepper]] is not a cola brand and has 23 distinct flavors (according to the manufacturer) and found not to be cola in a 1963 U.S. district court case.<ref>[http://www.drpepper.com/text/faq.aspx Dr. Pepper FAQ]</ref>
===Europe===
*[[Alter Cola]] is the native cola in [[Catalonia]]
*[[American Cola]] and [[Adria Cola]] are the local drinks in [[Romania]].*[[Breizh Cola]] is a local brand from [[Britanny]] ([[France]]) it offers different and unique flavors like a [[cloves]] aroma, bottled in an original [[cider]] bottle.
*[[Cuba Cola]] is the native cola of [[Sweden]].
*[[Czechia|Czech]] and [[Slovakia|Slovak]] [[Kofola]] is the third best selling soft-drink in their markets behind Coca-Cola and Pepsi.
*[[Germany|German]] brand [[Afri-Cola]] had a higher caffeine content (about 250 mg/L) until the product was relaunched with a new formulation in 1999, and has it again since a second relaunch with the original formulation in April 2006.
*[[Turkey]]'s regional cola is [[Cola Turka]].
*[[Virgin Cola]] was popular in the [[United Kingdom]], [[South Africa]] and [[Western Europe|western European countries]] in the 1990s but has waned in availability.
===Asia and the Middle East===
*[[Alef Cola]] is a brand of cola in [[Israel]] and the [[Palestinian Territories]], marketed specifically to [[Haredim]]. The kosher emblem is as large and prominent as the brand insignia.
*[[Mecca Cola]], an Arab-Israeli activist beverage, is sold in the [[Middle East]] and parts of Europe.
*[[RC Cola]] was popular in the [[Philippines]] with its franchisee [[Asiawide Beverages]]. RC was introduced to [[Israel]] in 1995 with the slogan "RC: Just like in America!"
*[[Star Cola]] is a brand from Gaza-Palestine.
*[[Super Drink]] is a popular cola in the [[Palestinian Territories]] and the [[State of Israel]].
*[[Thums Up]] is a popular cola brand in India.
*[[Zam Zam Cola]], popular in Iran and parts of the Arab world.
===Americas===
*[[Inca Kola]] is another brand that is now marketed in many countries by the [[The Coca-Cola Company|Coca Cola group]]; it is the major cola in some South American countries. This bright yellow carbonated beverage is especially popular in Peru, which was once the heartland of the Inca (or Inka) Empire. Inca Kola was only recently bought by Coca-Cola.
*[[R.C. Cola|Royal Crown]] ([[RC Cola]]) is widely available in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
*There is also an [[open source]] recipe for a cola drink, [[OpenCola]].
*[[tuKola]] and Tropicola are brands from [[Cuba]] (also sold widely in Italy)
==Chemical reactions==
[[Image:Cola in a cup.jpg|thumb|The carbonation in this cup of cola is evident from the bubbles.]]
Being carbonated, colas are acidic ([[carbonic acid]] is formed when [[carbon dioxide]] dissolves in water), and so can react violently with [[Base (chemistry)|basic]] chemicals, such as [[baking soda]]. Many colas also contain [[phosphoric acid]] and/or [[citric acid]], which further increases the acidity.<ref name="medicaleffects"/> Colas containing phosphoric acid have been linked to chronic kidney disease.<ref>{{cite journal | author = Tina M. Saldana, Olga Basso, Rebecca Darden, and Dale P. Sandler | title = Carbonated beverages and chronic kidney disease | year = 2007 | journal = [[Epidemiology]] | volume = 18 | issue = 4 | pages = 501–506 | doi = | url = http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=ShowDetailView&TermToSearch=17525693&ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum}}</ref> Drinking two or more of these colas per day more than doubled the incidence of kidney disease, while colas containing citric acid did not have an effect.
The [[Diet Coke and Mentos eruption]] is an experiment that became popular at the start of the 21st century. {{Fact|date=October 2007}} [[Mentos]] candies and crystalline powders such as sugar and salt when added to cola (usually diet coke), cause fizzing by providing many [[Nucleation|micronucleation]] points for the carbon dioxide to leave solution. This however is a physical reaction resulting from the release of dissolved CO2 as opposed to a chemical reaction.
Another experiment involved adding [[dry ice]], providing additional carbon dioxide and can force some of the carbon dioxide present in the drink out of solution, creating an explosion, destroying the bottle.
In either case, mixing these substances with cola (or any other carbonated drink) causes the drink to bubble, creating foam and greatly increasing the pressure in the bottle, resulting in either the bottle or the cap giving way.<ref name="medicaleffects">{{citeweb|url=http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=162805|title=Effects of an acidic beverage (Coca-Cola) on absorption of ketoconazole|accessdate=2007-06-19}}</ref>
==Etymology==
{{wiktionary|cola}}
The word '''cola''' may have been introduced into the mainstream by the major producer Coca-Cola, as they saw their trademark slipping into common use, like other [[genericized trademark]]s. They successfully defended the exclusive use of their name and its diminutive form "[[Coke]]" by suggesting the alternative of "cola drink" as a generic name for similar types of carbonated soft drinks. The word cola as part of the Coca-Cola trademark may have originated from the [[kola nut]]s that were originally used as the source of caffeine, or from when the original recipe contained coca (from which cocaine is derived).
== See also ==
*[[:Template:Colas|Brands of Cola]] (shown below)
*[[Cola wars]]
*[[Zamzamcola|Zam Zam Cola (USA / Canada)]]
== External links ==
*[http://eepybird.com/dcm1.html Cola and Mentos mints trick]
*[http://www.fulcola.com Fulcola] - lists and reviews cola drinks (Swedish only)
*[http://www.colawp.com/colas/400/cola467_recipe.html OpenCola recipe] (originally published by [[Cory Doctorow]])
*[http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mcaffeine.html Straight Dope article about caffeine levels on soft drinks]
*[http://www.chrismore.com/sodapop/ The Soda Pop Mashup!]
*[http://www.zamzam.ca Zam Zam Foods North America Inc]
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Colas}}
[[Category:Cola| ]]
[[Category:Soft drinks]]
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